I honestly despise inflatable sleeping pads. When I'm camping, typically I go without a sleeping pad. When backpacking (I've gone in the winter only, with heavy, borrowed or rented equipment) I've had a heavy closed-cell pad that is far more than I need for summer use. For car camping, I have a thick fleece mat that is honestly more comfortable than my mattress at home (but weighs about 8lbs and folds up to the size of an entire backpack)

Since I bought a quilt from Enlightened Equipment, I do need some kind of ground covering between me and the floor of the tent even in summer. But I'm looking for something lightweight, packable, and not inflatable for when I'm away from the car. A cheap ridgerest is just so bulky!

I'm open to purchased options (not too pricey) or a DIY style. Doesn't need a lot of padding, just enough insulation to keep the ground from sucking away all my warmth.

If you want something really minimalist, look at the Gossamer Gear Nightlight torso length sleeping pad. It's basically a torso-length version of the Thermarest ZRest. Probably the closest to the old Mt. Washington pad.

Next up would be a self-inflating mat from Thermarest such as the Prolite, definitely less bulky when packed than a full-length CCF pad and not needing the "huff and puff" routine..

If you aren't too heavy, you might try a piece of Reflectix. It comes in 4 foot wide rolls and in some places can be bought by the foot. Just cut a 20" wide piece. It can be folded up pretty flat, or rolled up smaller than most pads, as it's only 1/4" thick. http://www.dutchwaregear.com/reflectanium-by-the-foot..html
The link is for 12" Rx. You could cut pieces and tape them with Gorilla or Tenacious Tape and it would fold into a pad That is 12"x20" by 1" thick.

Pad selection seems to be a tapdance among five qualities: comfort, warmth, bulk, weight and ruggedness. In selecting you can usually achieve three, if you're lucky, four.

All closed cell pads are bulky, so one must decide on how thin to go and much to cut it down. At least you end up with light, warm (if not too thin) and indestructible. Unusable by me other than atop snow.

With an air mattress you get highest comfort plus low bulk and weight. Some are warm but none is truly rugged (by comparison).

Self-inflators are all over the map, somewhere between the others in bulk, comfort and ruggedness, generally warm and heaviest of all. This seems like the biggest category, with hundreds to select from.

I use a NeoAir and have a couple options, depending on season. The short one packs the size of a sandwich at about eight ounces, but I never toss it on the bare ground to use it.

Thanks!

I actually find inflatable pads to be uncomfortable. Barely tolerable. I don't know why, there's just something about them that puts me off.
I've always preferred either a minimum of padding for the conditions - unless it's really rocky or very cold (closing in on freezing, or below freezing), I prefer to feel the ground under me. Since I can't afford to travel very far away right now, I know that it's unlikely that I'm going to be setting up my tent on gravel or rock; and if I go out in winter I'll want something more substantial but I can worry about that then.

I'd say that of your list of five things, Rick_D, the ones that are most important to me are weight and probably ruggedness, and minimizing bulk within the constraints of CCF. I'm looking for a bare minimum of insulation.

So the Reflectix or Gossamer Gear nightlight are probably my best options. I'm also looking at the Thinlight Insulation Pads from Gossamer Gear, as something that I could trim to whatever size I decide (probably a 3/4 length) that I want and looks like it would roll up pretty well.

Those thinlight pads provide very little insulation, because they are so thin. I tried one for my late dog and he started getting cold at 40*F. I shifted him to a GG Nightlight torso length pad and that worked just fine (down to 15*F).

Another possibility is the Thermarest ZRest--because of its accordion folds, it takes up less room than the Ridgerest. At least it can easily be strapped to the outside of your pack in a neat bundle, unlike the Ridgerest.

One problem with inflatables is that when you blow them up full, it's like sleeping on a brick. I like mine squishy, so I let a bunch of air out. leaving just enough air to keep my hip bones (very pressure sensitive) from hitting the ground. It sounds as though you might prefer yours blown up hard, though.

I still think a self-inflating pad might work for you--they're a lot thinner than the air pads you have to blow up-- but you'll have to try it out. I always suggest a couple of nights on the floor at home with a new pad before taking it anywhere, while you can still return it.

I've tried a couple of different styles of the blow-up ones, and fully inflated them, barely-inflated them, and everything in between... just doesn't work for me.

With the self-inflating ones, cost also becomes a factor. I love packing things up tiny (compressible gear makes me giddy. It's ridiculous) but are there options that fall into the sweet spot of affordable, lightweight, AND reasonably durable? Or is an inexpensive one going to fail? Because I can get a cheap, lightweight CCF pad and it will still work the same even if it gets a hole in it. Or even if my dog decides it's a chew toy. There comes a point where the difference in cost isn't justifiable.

For a summer sleep system, the thinlight pad might work okay, as long as I find an alternate when nighttime temps start dipping under 50 or so?

One question no one asked: what kind of pack do you use?

If you're carrying very, very light loads, you could very easily get a frameless pack and a z-Lite pad, and the pad "stores" in a pocket against your back to form a frame that is quite effective.for light loads. You not only get multiple use of the pac, but may save a pound or more over the pack you currently use.

I believe (though I haven't checked their websites for a year or more) that Gossamer Gear and Six Moon Designs make such packs. Granite Gear also makes one called the Virga.

Go to Walmart. Get the Blue CCF for around $6 I think. They have a green/yellow one that is a little more comfortable, but you sound like you don't need the comfort. If the pad is too long or wide, cut it.

I have three pads- self inflatable ($50), closed cell blue (from REI, $20) and the bubble wrap/foil used for shipping (free- thanks Bill for sending it to test!). Great thing about a closed cell pad or bubble wrap, is that you can easily cut it to fit exactly. I use my pack as a pillow so only need the pad to go up to my shoulders. Since I am small, most pads are too big, so I also cut the width. I also have a pro-lite self inflatable is the x-small which is just right for me. When I take the pro-lite I also take a 2.5x2.5 cut blue pad for a sit-pad and under my feet at night. NEVER sit on an inflatable outside the tent on the ground- good way to get a leak! The main purpose of the pro-lite is padding for my hips and torso. I have been know to camp on top of a flat rock!

In Spring and Fall I use the pro-lite plus the bubble wrap. The pro-lite packs inside my pack, the bubble wrap (or blue foam if really cold) packs on the outside.

Your body weight and type also matters. I do not think a heavy person could use the bubble wrap. On the other hand, a bit of blubber on the hips does provide some padding. We bony-hipped people need some added padding.

Be sure to match the R-factor with the conditions. REI has a nice chart that compares pads.

In summary, I have a "mix and match" system that works for all sorts of conditions. No pad is horribly expensive either. I prefer this system because I do not want to carry extra weight of a winter pad in the summer and also want to avoid the $$$ of a winter pad.

Glenn, I have an Osprey Kestrel pack (can't remember the size off the top of my head). It's brand new, so not looking to replace it any time soon. I haven't weighed everything but I think my base weight for pack, tent, and quilt is coming in around 8 lbs, estimating based on weights given by manufacturers.

Wandering Daisy - thanks for the tip about the R-factor chart on REI!

I have a Kestrel 48, and really like it. For summer, it's my go-to pack; in winter, it's an Atmos 50AG (only because they no longer make the Kestrel 58, and I wasn't smart enough to get one while they did.)

Actually, my reply to your post spurred me to go look at the Granite Gear Virga, which I used many years ago but dropped because it didn't have a supportive hip belt. Now it does, and I may have to give it another try; a fifteen pound load would be nice, and I think with that pack I may be able to get there. (I always had good luck using a Thermarest self-inflator, lightly inflated, inside a chair kit, to create a virtual frame - and to sit in at camp! I wonder if a Neoair will work...)

The bubble wrap mat sounds like a great idea!

Picked up a Virga 2, and took it on two weekend trips so far - hipbelt is a big improvement over the original Virga! Oh, yeah - NeoAir in a chair kit works just dandy as a frame, and, since it's dual function now, even better as a guilt-free chair after a long day.